There are many types of apple trees designed for growing in temperate continental climates. Most of them are able to withstand the vagaries of weather, resist parasites and produce a bountiful harvest of delicious fruits. But you just can’t compare with the Red Free apple tree, which enjoys the well-deserved love of gardeners in Russia, Europe and the USA. And such popularity is well deserved! The tree is easy to care for, attractive in appearance, and Redfree apples are not only tasty, but also very healthy.
Description of the variety
Red Free is a relatively young variety of apple tree, which, as a result of painstaking and long work, was created by breeders in the United States. It is the result of repeated crossing of the domestic apple tree and the abundantly flowering crabapple, popular in Asian countries, especially in Japan.
In the countries of the former USSR, this culture became widespread after 2000. It was described as an apple tree from which you can reap a large harvest of beautiful, tasty and healthy fruits.
This type of apple is really good! Their dense, shiny skin has a rich green and red color. When they ripen, they are painted with thick, wide, wine-red stripes.
The flesh of the apples is soft white, with a creamy tint. It is often used to make fruit wines, sparkling apple wines, compotes and juices. A little less often - for making jams, preserves and jellies.
Advantages and disadvantages
By crossing different types of apple trees, scientists have a single goal - to obtain a variety that is superior to the parent samples in all respects. In the case of the Red Free apple tree, they managed to achieve what they wanted. Although some properties of the plant were not ideal.
Advantages of the Redfrey variety
- Sweet, slightly caramel and definitely memorable taste of the fruit.
- Recognized commercial qualities that apples owe to their strong, smooth skin.
- Immunity to most parasites, including scab.
- High yield and regularity of fruiting.
Flaws
- The tree does not have stable immunity to powdery mildew.
- Apple flower pollen has low viability. Without artificial pollination, fruits are formed only in 15% of cases.
Characteristics of the Red Free apple tree
The individual characteristics of Red Free apple trees quickly gained popularity among both ordinary gardeners and people involved in growing fruits for the digestive industry.
Dimensions
The trees are not particularly tall and are classified as medium-sized. Adult plants grow up to 3-3.5 meters. In rare cases, their height reaches 4 meters.
The crown of an adult apple tree is spreading, irregularly round in shape.
Productivity
The apple tree begins to produce a harvest from the second or third year of life. At 5-7 years it reaches a mature level. During these years, up to 50 kilograms of fruit are removed from it.
Frequency of fruiting
The Red Free variety bears fruit annually and, under favorable weather conditions, is characterized by stable apple ripening times.
Winter hardiness
The tree is not intended for cultivation in northern regions. In cold areas of the middle zone it may suffer from late spring frosts or severe winter frosts. In such cases, it is recommended to wrap the base of the trunk with insulation and cover it with film.
Disease resistance
The apple tree is not susceptible to diseases typical of its species, with the exception of powdery mildew. To protect it, it is necessary to regularly carry out preventive treatment, as well as monitor the appearance of the crop.
Fruiting and ripening
An important feature of the Red Free variety is its early ripening. The tree begins to bear fruit 2-3 years after planting. Of course, it produces little fruit during this period.
The culture enters into adulthood only in the fifth year of life. Then its fruitfulness increases significantly. It is noteworthy that apples appear not only on branches, but also on spears and ringed shoots.
Flowers on Redfree appear early and on the entire tree at once. The fruits are also formed simultaneously. This usually occurs in mid or late August.
It is best to store fruits in a cool, dry place. Then they will retain their presentation and beneficial properties until winter.
Best Growing Regions
According to the peculiarities of climatic conditions, the Red Free apple tree feels best in the central zone of the European part of Russia. It includes the following regions:
- Moscow and Smolensk.
- Ryazansky and Tverskoy.
- Vladimirsky and Yaroslavsky.
- Bryansk and Nizhny Novgorod.
This plant is also comfortable in the southern parts of the central black earth economic region, as well as in Ukraine and Belarus.
